Just wanted to say that I've been watching a lot of videos on RU-vid to prepare me for an overnight backpacking trip and your videos have provided me with the best quality knowledge. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I've always packed my tent and sleeping pad on the outside, which can be cumbersome. I never thought to put them on the inside. I will be packing as you have instructed for a trip tomorrow!
Im hiking some of the appalachian trail this month and im newbie at this stuff you have no odea how helpful this video is to me thank you there is no doubt that i am subscribing to this guy.
I have never camped since I was a kid and I am a total beginner, I have started to get my gear, backpacks, tent etc but been wondering what the best way is to actually pack the backpack, many videos on youtube, and instructions on internet, but your video is the best informative and best on showing how to do this, THANK YOU! :)
Hey Man, good video, thanks for posting. I've been working for one of the companies of the products you've mentioned in this video for a little over 4 years now. It's nice to see videos like this posted to help people out and it helps us out in the store having people be better educated. A couple of other tips that I like to tell customers is to keep the heavier items closer to your back, and just me personally, I like carrying my tent on the top of my pack even though it's not always the most convenient since you have to take that off before accessing my jacket and clothing layers. But the reason I like to pack my tent on the top of my pack is because for one thing, I can lay it horizontally and distribute weight evenly like you mentioned, and secondly, having a heavier item like that on the top of my pack keeps the weight close to my back and doesn't push my center of gravity backwards. I see a lot of people pack there tent on the bottom of there pack using the straps under the pack which I think is a bad idea because it pushes your center of gravity backwards and weighs down the bottom of the pack. It's just my opinion and I tell customers there are more than a few ways to pack and everyone has there own system. I appreciate your video and the information you share. Happy Hiking! :)
I found your video to be exceptional, in teaching others how to pack for hiking trip. Appreciate the time and effort that you put in to it and look forward to many more videos on such subjects
You have great videos. This is just a small tip. You should try to pack your tent and sleeping without their own bags. It makes getting your bagpack even super more easy. And you can compress them to same size either way. First when i heard about this technique i was like this is herecy but after i tried it feels so sensible. Also a good tip for sleeping mattess with similar to your. Make big round thing from it and pack stuff in the middle then it protecs your stuff and again makes it easier to get bagpack balanced. Just try these 👍
Great video(s) with very valuable outdoor information. Spent hours watching you explain different gear with tips and tricks along the way. Thanks for taking the time to do this. Subscribed!
Great video, I'm planning my first overnighter and it was very informative. May I suggest that you list the items featured in the video in your description.
i'm totally in love with my blue baltoro 75. my only two complains are the fact that the raincover is not included (and the bag doesn't have an especific pocket to keep it once you buy it) and the lack of internal divisions for small objects. other than those things, an excelent backpack in every aspect!
Very good instructional video. I would just add a map and compass or GPS, an emergency signal unit such as a signal mirror for day time and strobe at night, and a headlamp for hands free activity at night. Thanks.
I put my sleeping bag in the main compartment with my tent. I have the llbean white mountain pack an I feel the bottom compartment is one of the easiest compartments to get in to on the trail.
Great video! I am new to backpacking and hammock camping. I’ve got most of the gear now including hammock, tarp, under quilt and top quilt. I was wondering how you would pack an external frame backpack? More specific, the 55L one from Field and Steam or one like it. It has a bottom and top compartment, 4 side pockets and one on the top flap. I’ll stop there, but would love to talk more about it. Anyway, thanks for all the information!
Do you ever put your sleeping pad on the outside of your bag? To leave more room for clothes, food, and gear inside? Just curious. I'm packing this week for 5 days on trail. It didn't occur to me to put the pad in the pack.
Anne Hess you never want your sleeping bag outside. It will get wet and you will be either miserable or dangerously cold at night Also, a properly compressed sleeping bag is the best base in the bottom of the pack.
Thanks for the basics. I have a question: where to put the bear can? I noticed your food was just in a mesh bag. Evryone need to at least use a waterproof bag and 60ft of line to hang, but more and more we need to bear-can the food. East and west. I guess put the can inside and wrap the sleeping pad around everything inside or strap putside? What about raingrear?
Hi, my tent came with a suitcase-like bag and a sack like yours. How do you recommend to locate the tent inside the backpack? Do you think that a sack like yours is better than the "suitcase" in matters of wight propotions? It gets inside my backpack nicely though.
Hi! I'm just starting to get ready for my first overnight. Never backpacked before, but looking forward to it! Do you have a video like this that addresses an external frame pack? Thanks!
+Dewi Wessels Beljaars I really liked those bags too! From what I can find I think they are Vaultz mesh storage bags. You can find them on amazon for pretty cheap.
considering you packed overnight gear.. im wondering about your food supply. you seemed to only pack a little pouch with food, and if your doing an overighter or multiday trip, theres no way thats enough food. and What about your cold weather jackets and stuff. how do you get all that stuff to fit?
This was really REALLY helpful! I'm new to this and I just don't understand how you can fit your sleeping bag in there... I can't fit mine in! How much food did u pack and how long will that last also?
Just your thoughts about putting your tent on the bottom, underneath the sleeping bag compartment with the compression straps. That's how I did mine. Is this wrong of me to do. I have the Gregory Baltoro 65 thinking of going to the z65 for weight. Would love to hear your opinion.
Great videos! I'm just starting on getting gear together...have you done any reviews on footwear? Or clothing in general? Keep em coming Luke! Great information!
You only have snacks for food? Your food bag seems really small, i suppose it would be bigger on a 2-nighter ? And where would you put it in the backpack?
*Can we please clear something up? I heard contradicting things about keeping your gear compressed for long periods of time. So, I thought, you COULD keep down compressed for long periods of time, because of it being down feathers, they don't lose loft over time by being compressed. But, I had the understanding synthetic insulation was the one that couldn't be compressed over time because it would kill the loft.* ?
also prefer to attach my roll mat to the front of my bag wrapped in a bin liner, saves a ton of room, though mines a lot more lightweight than yours by the looks of it
TacticalApache94 I'm a year late but if you haven't found the answer yet. The insulation in sleeping bags relies on loft. Which is essentially pockets of air trapped by the down or fibers. Prolonged compression damages the insulation which makes it harder for the fibers to expand enough to create as many of those air pockets and the sleeping bag loses some of its effectiveness.
that was pretty cool Luke!! Can you post a video on how to protect your backpack from rains? (many of us don't wish to buy that costly raincover...don't v :p)
I am interested in purchasing the black diamond big wall hooped bivy bag, and I noticed you have/had one, what would you say combing that bivy sack and a half synthetic, half goose down sleeping bag? I used a bivy in the army and fell in love with them but I am concerned about the moister and the goose down. Thanks for your advice
Hey there, I think you can definitely make the bivy work with that type of bag. If you can keep your breathing outside of the bivy sack, you will be in very good shape. I wouldn't completely seal yourself up in it unless you absolutely had to.
I enjoyed warning your video, it confirmed that I'm doing something right. lol. I'm fairly new to backpack camping, only a few years now. I have been building my backpack and have a pretty decent set up. I do have a couple questions for you. 1. what stove setup do you use? I'm using a small 1 burner camp stove that runs off the 1lb propane tanks, there's gotta be a better way. 2. water is the hardest to pack. where I go there isn't much in the way of streams/rivers, do you have any suggestions on the water? I don't have a hydration pocket in my pack but I am going to try to figure out how to work a bladder into it. do you have good filter suggestions for when there is natural water sources neat by? 3. (last) I don't know where you backpack, I live in Denver, Colorado. I love the Rockey Mountains, do you know any good areas? Thanks.
+Rich Miller if I may interject here1. If you live in the Colorado area you could burn wood, I would but say in the morning you want a quick coffee or cappuccino. I have a mini pocket burner with a Canteen shop canteen kit. For a pan, I would look one up that is light and easy to clean up with I like my Esbit alcohol stove kit for larger meals and time to cook. Why alcohol? its burner is small, easy to make your own, fuel is cheap- Denatured Alcohol.2. Water- except for carrying dehydrated water in a can, you may want to backpack some where around a water source. You can always get a sleeve for a bladder or connect it onto the outside or under the lid of a backpack. Since I have an ILBE gen 2 pack I have several options and carry more than one bladder. I have a Geigerrig bladder and Camelback wide mouth (I use either)both can easy be field cleaned. Also I have a Katadyn Vario water filter with 2 Nalgene wide mouth 96 ounce collapsible canteen. You can get the collapsible canteen in other sizes and they can be attached with a simple carbiners. I drink ALLLLOOOTTTT of water so I need to make sure I am near a water source . I also carry 2 different Sawyer filters one 3 way and the other a mini with an assortment of connecters. Sawyer is A MIILION GALLON filter with the ability to back flush it. 3. Find a good place to go backpacking is just a personal choice. I try ANY new equipment out in backyard when I can. So even backyard camping is nice. Failure on a trail is not an option I want to have!4. Seems like I carry a redundant amount of stuff but if one fails you are screwed if no backup5. Sorry if my reply is too long
+spartannn300 no your reply wasn't to long, it was informative. thanks for the info on the stoves and water filters. yea I use small campfires to heat water/food most of the time (whenever possible), I like to have the camp stove as a backup. I will do some looking on Google at some of the items you mentioned. I completely agree on trail equipment failures is not an option. Thanks again.
Cool video, but the part about leaving the sleepingbag compressed for no more than 24 hours seems a bit strange, because it comes compressed from the factory/store, and who knows how long it's been compressed, but i guess it's more than 24 hours... i may be drunk and misunderstood what you meant, but i don't Think i did.
Great reviews! On a previous video you posted you used a black diamond big wall hooped bivy bag, I am interested if you would advise me using it with a combo bag of goose down and synthetic? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Dan
If you're going to use a bivy sack and if you can keep your breathing vented out of the sack, down will be fine. If it's closed up, go with the synthetic.
Yes, since if you leave it in a compression sac when storing it, the material will slightly retain it's compressed form. It will also take more time to "flush up"
So if your camping for years on end indefinitely like i am there is no room in your bag for sleeping bag or tent. I put my sleeping bag and tent underneath the top flap and tighten it down until it doesn't move. Very easy and doesn't fluctuate weight.
It's always different as I like to switch things up. For the summer months I like to stay under $25lbs. If I'm going ultralight I go be in the 15lbs range. What about you? -Luke
i see a lot of people strap a standalone camelback to the outside of the pack under the compression straps, so you don't have to unpack your ruck just to fill your water
